Lionel Messi back in action after appealing ban for altercation with assistant referee

Lionel Messi is free to represent Argentina in their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers after his suspension for allegedly abusing an assistant referee was overturned on appeal.

The 29-year-old Barcelona striker was banned from four international matches and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (€9,227) for supposedly "having directed insulting words" at an official during Argentina's World Cup qualifying meeting with Chile on March 23.